Secret 40: The Power of Beliefs in Business

Excerpted from Zingerman’s Guide to Good Leading, Part 4:
A Lapsed Anarchist’s Approach to the Power of Beliefs in Business.

In 1908, six years after Disderide opened his shop on Detroit Street, anarchist Emma Goldman published a pamphlet called “What I Believe.” As is often the case, Ari agrees wholeheartedly with Goldman’s words: “‘What I believe’ is a process rather than a finality.” Understanding the thought and the action behind her statement is what this essay is all about. Beliefs are one of the most powerful forces in our lives. They impact how well we work together, the quality of our products, our organizational culture, our community, our relationships. Everything in our lives is likely to have its roots in beliefs. As we become more mindful of our beliefs and the impact they have on us, we can steadily shape our lives to be as we would like them to be.